Feeding the cat: precautions for adequate support for age and breed

it is the basis of a healthy life. As for men and women, our pets also need the right attention to start from an early age with simple precautions that can prevent future ailments.

The cat is a strict carnivore, so it needs meat as a fundamental element of its daily meal. Animal proteins, and therefore the type of meat used for the production of cat food, are very varied; however, the position they have in the description of the composition on the label assumes importance, because it must be present in the greater quantity than the rest and therefore mentioned in the first place.

The variety of companies that produce both dry and wet cat food is enormous. For this reason it is important to be advised by the operators in the sector or by your veterinarian in a conscious choice of good quality.

For further information: Feeding the cat he must support the growth and changes in needs that naturally change during his life.

For this reason, foods are divided into the three main phases of feline life:

• Food for kittens (now often referred to by the English name kitten) are designed to accompany the cat from weaning to adulthood. This type of food is in fact proposed when the kitten abandons the mother's milk and switches to a "dry and / or wet" feeding; it is designed with a very small size, easy to grasp to facilitate good chewing. Kitten foods contain adequate nutritional support of vitamins and minerals for the growth of the kitten, which needs more energy than an adult cat and support for its still developing immune system. Therefore, antioxidant substances, digestible proteins and specific fibers are often present to accompany the formation of a good intestinal microbiome.In general, food for kittens can be used until the end of the growth period, thus reaching one year of age.
• Food for adult cats or sterilized adult cats must be offered from the year of life and can be used up to the age of 7-8. The composition of this food has a lower energy content than that of the kitten, especially if you switch to specific foods for sterilized cats; these in fact are subjects that change their metabolism and are more likely to gain weight. In any case, good quality foods are balanced for the maintenance of the adult cat in good health with a high protein content to support the muscles and a precaution for the urinary tract. Among the foods for adult cats is also indicated the choice according to the type of life that the animal carries out: a home cat will certainly need less energy than an explorer cat, so there are balanced formulas for both lifestyles.
• Food for senior cats must be used from the age of 7-8 years and follow the changes in the needs of the elderly cat. In this case, generally, the digestibility of the food is increased and antioxidant substances are added to prevent the first symptoms of aging. . Renal and urinary tract function is also supported, whose pathologies mainly affect elderly cats.

These indications follow the general lines of changes that a healthy cat has during its life, thus excluding the specific indications that must be followed in case of diagnosed pathologies. In these cases, in fact, the veterinarian will prescribe specific diets.

For further information: Cat feeding: choice of food and label reading for active cats with an important size. In fact, sources of omega 3 fatty acids such as EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid) and DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) are added to the formulation for their joint anti-inflammatory action and a good content of proteins and fats is maintained to support the muscles.

hair and skin for cats with very thick or long coats, which need support from omega 3 and omega 6 and an increase in fiber for adequate transit of hairballs. These formulations are able to support the skin in breeds prone to dermatitis.

heart with the addition of taurine, in addition to EPA and DHA, for the prevention of cardiomyopathies especially in predisposed breeds. In fact, taurine is one of the amino acids that cats, unlike other species, are unable to produce with their metabolism but it must be introduced with the diet. In fact, it constitutes one of the main errors in case of incorrect formulations. In predisposed breeds this amine assumes even more importance.

urinary system with the right balance of mineral salts present, for the prevention of disorders of the lower urinary tract.

intestine through the use of highly digestible proteins and probiotics, especially in breeds with a tendency to alter the intestinal flora and therefore to gastrointestinal problems.

mouth and teeth, studying a form of dry food that helps chewing and prevents the formation of tartar. In fact, there are feed companies that offer croquettes of different shapes depending on the type of jaw that each cat breed has.

For further information: Sphynx cats the most frequent diseases , bones and joints, and for its thick coat. He also has a predisposition for heart disease.

The Norwegian Forest Cat, also a large breed with long hair, for which attention must be paid to joints and the prevention of disorders related to hairballs.

The Siamese, with attention to the musculature for the maintenance of its slender body, its digestive health and the prevention of urinary diseases.

The Persian, for which the needs must meet particular needs of the skin and coat, intestine and urinary tract.

The British, who in addition to supporting the muscles and bones needs a preventive formula for the heart and urinary tract.

The Sphynx, which with its particular naked appearance must be protected from the dermatological pathologies that can affect it. For this reason, in addition to supporting the heart and urinary tract, attention must be paid to the quantity of fats present and energy, useful for maintaining the body heat normally dispersed by the skin.

The Ragdoll, predisposed to urinary and cardiac pathologies, must receive the right formulation for its typical soft coat.

The Bengal, with a particularly silky coat and agile body, has nutritional needs for bones, joints, muscles and coat.